Truck hoist



L.- GELBMAN TRUCK HOIST 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 9, 1946 m e. w. E QQ] M f a @Q w w m@ w km L W .NVQ ww wv.; Q 0% Nm Nm www@ L. GELBMAN Aug. 2, 1949.

TRUCK HOI S T 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 9, 1946 NS m9 Patented ug. 2, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUCK HOIST Y Louis Gelbman, Yonkers, N. Y. v i

Application January 9, 1946, Serial No. 639,957 6 Claims. (Cl. 212-31) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in truck hoists.

The invention is particularly intended to cover a truck hoist for loading concrete blocks on and off a truck, though the hoist obviously will have many other uses. Concrete blocks are usually loaded upon trucks by the supplier with a hoist which is foreign to the truck. When the truck reaches a job no hoist usually is available to unload it. It is then a difficult and tedious job to manually unload the truck. More important, the truck is delayed and thus indirectly adds to the cost. With the new hoist it may be possible to unload the truck in half the time or less, and this factor sometimes will make it possible for the supplier to get along with a lesser number of trucks.

The invention is broadly characterized by a horizontal beam turnably mounted on a vertical post adapted to be mounted on a truck. It is proposed that a carriage be slidably mounted along along the beam, and that a lifting fork for blocks and other articles depends from the carriage. It is proposed that an air hoist means be associated with the lifting fork in such a manner that the beam is free to swing around 360, and the carriage is free to move along the entire length of the beam. It is further proposed that this air hoist means be adapted for raising and lowering the lifting fork. With this arrangement the truck may be eiiiciently loaded and unloaded.

The broad concepts of the invention may be embodied in any number of forms of truck` hoists. Two embodiments have been disclosed in this specification. In one embodiment the air cylinder of the air hoist means is mounted on the beam. In the other embodiment it is mounted upon the carriage.

More specifically, it is proposed to characterize y one form of the new and improved truck hoist by the fact that it includes a vertical post adapted to be mounted centrally on the truck. A horizontal beam is turnably mounted on the post. A carriage is slidably mounted on the beam. It is proposed to support a lifting fork from said carriage and to operate the lifting fork in a particularly simple manner so that the truck may be efl'iciently loaded. The lifting fork may be moved along the length of the beam, and the beam may be turned to various positions, and in this Way the entire truck may be easily and conveniently loaded. An advantage of the construction resides in the fact that the truck hoist remains permanently on the truck and is available for unloading as well as loading the truck,

v The other form of this invention is characterized by an air hoist cylinder pivotally mounted upon a carriage which in turn is slidably mounted upon a horizontal beam whichv is turnably mounted upon a Vertical post adapted to be mounted on a truck. It is proposed that the air hoist cylinder be capable of pivoting from a vertical to a substantially horizontal position. It is proposed'to provide an air hoist-'cylinder with a piston rod which extends from one end 0fthe cylinder. It is proposed that a lifting fork depends from the extended end of the pistonlrod. With this arrangement it is possible to placeV the airhoist piston in a vertical position for directly raising and lowering the lifting fork. When the truck travels it is proposed that the air'hoist cylinder be pivoted downwarda'to its horizontal position so that it does not Vproject upwards an unreasonable distance from `the truck. In this form of the invention itis also proposed to use air control valves mounted on the lifting fork and connected Vwith and controlling the compressed air supply line for controlling the raising and lowering of the lifting fork.

The invention also proposes that the new and improved truck hoists be of exceptionally simple and efficient construction so that they may be manufactured at a low cost and applied upon trucks at but aV slight increase over the cost of the truck.

The invention, more specifically, contemplates to mount an air hoist means directly or indirectly upon the'beam previously mentioned and to control this means with simple mechanism by which the lifting fork may be raised and lowered to any desirable position. It is proposed to so `arrange the lifting means so that at all times the lifting M, fork is free to be moved along the length of the this invention.

. post I0.

-The internal flange 20 is disposed between the -flange 22 and the top of the post I0.

lably engage the flanges of the beam I6.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of certain parts illustrated in Fig. 3, this View being taken as though looking in the direction of the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, with certain parts removed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view looking in the direction of the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed View of the central portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed View of a portion of Fig. 3 but illustrated with the valves in section so that their construction and operation may be better understood.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view looking in thedirecton of the line 8 8 of Fig. "1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a truck provided with a truck hoist constructed in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sec- =tional view taken on the line Ill- IU of Fig. 9.

The truck hoist, in accordance with this invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, includes a vertical post I8 adapted to be mounted upon a truck II.- The vertical post I0 is hollow. It is reinforced with several ribs I2. It is provided with a bottom flange I3 by which it is mounted on angle members I4, which in turn are mounted upon the flooring of the truck Il. A horizontal -beam I6 is turnably mounted upon the top of .the post I0. The beam I6 consists of a front .beam section I'I and a back beam section I8 which are disposed in a line with each other and which are attached at their inner ends upon an annular member I8. This annular member I9 is provided with an internal flange 28. A bushing 2| is threadedly engaged on the top of the The bushing 2| has a top flange 22.

A ball bearing 23 is located between the top of the post l0 and the bottom of the internal flange 28. A

ball bearing 24 is locatedbetween the top of the internal flange and the bottom of the flange 22.

These bearings 23 and 24 serve to indirectly turnably support the beam I6 on the post I0.

A bolt I5 is removably mounted between the annular member I9 and the post I0 for holding Amounted on the front section I'I of the beam I6.

This carriage 26 includes rollers 21 which slid- The carriage 28 has a bottom section 28 upon which 'a pair of spaced rollers 29 and 38 are rotatively mounted. An air hoist cylinder 32 is fixedly mounted upon the rear section I 8 of the beam I6.

rod 34.-- A roller 3l is mounted upon the outer =-end of the section I'I of the beam I6.

A cable 38 has one ofV its ends xedly con- 'nected with the outer end of the section I'I of the beam I6. This end of the cable is attached upon a rod 39 which is mounted on the beam I6.

. The cable 38 extends over andalong the beam I6 and then around the pulley 36' and continues and extends over the pulley 31 and then continues and extends under the beam I6 and over the rollers 3i) and 29 from which it continues and terminates by being attached at its end upon an angle member 40 xedly mounted upon the bottom of the beam I6 at a point immediately adjacent the post I8. A roller 42 is mounted upon and supported by the cable 38 at a point between the said pair of rollers 29 and 30. A lifting fork 44 depends from said roller 42. The construction is such that when the piston rod 34 moves outwards of the air cylinder 32 the cable 38 Will be slackened and the lifting fork 44 will be lowered because of its weight.

The roller 42 is mounted within a roller housing 45 which is provided with a bottom hook 46 from which the lifting fork 44 depends. The lifting fork 44 includes a bar 48 upon the ends of which a pair of gripping plates or jaws 49 are pivotally mounted. More specifically, the ends of the'bar 48 are provided with upwardly directed lugs- 58. The gripping jaws 49 have inwardly directed arms 5I and 52 which straddle the lugs 58. Pintles 53 pass through these arms and the lugs 58 by which the jaws 49 are pivotally supported.

- A yoke 55 extends over the inner ends of the arms 5I and 52. This yoke 55 consists of side plates 56 and 5l which are rigidly connected together by transverse connecting rods 58 and by a transverse eye member'59. The hook 46 passes through the eye member 59. The side plates 56 and 5l are providedV with horizontal slots 60 through which pins 6l project. These pins 5I are fixedly mounted upon the inner ends of the arms 5I and 52. A latch is associated with each pin 6I for indirectly holding the gripping jaws 49 in their open positions. Each latch consists of a hook 62 which is pivotally mounted at its bottom end upon a boss S3 supported' on the bar 48. A spring 64 acts between each hook 62 and the bar 48 for normally 'urging the hooks 62 on to the pins 6l. Each hook B2 is pivotally limited by a lug 68 which 'projects from the bar 48.

vEach hook 82 is provided with a handle S1 by which it may be manually moved. As illustrated on the drawing, the grippingjaws 49 are latched in their open position. In this condition, the lifting fork may be lowered over a group of build- 'ing blocks, or other objects, to be lifted. The

hooks 62 are then manually disengaged from the pins 6i. Now, when the lifting fork 44 is moved upwards, the yoke will lift the pins 6I and cause the arms 5I and 52 to pivot so as to indirectly cause the gripping jaws 49 to move towards each other and grip the building blocks or other objects to be lifted. The top ends of the hooks G2 are formed with beveled edge portions 'FEB against-which the pins 6I will strike when the load of the lifting fork 44 is released and the yoke 55 moves downwards. The pins 6I will cam apart the hooks 62 and then will pass beneath the hooks 62 so as to become latched in the-positions illustrated in Fig. 5 which relatches the lifting fork 44 in its open position.

The truck-II is provided with a compressed air tank 'II which may receive a supply of compressed air from a compressor, or other device not illustrated on the drawings. A pipe line I2 is connected with the tank r'II and extends lthrough the vertical post I'IJ. AThis pipe line 'I2 connects with a tubular 'projection 'I3 upon a disc' 'I4 which is flxedly mounted across the flange 22. An elbow 'I5 connects with a pipe connection I6 from which a pipe line 'I'I extends 4and connects with the front end of the air hoist cylinder 32. The pipe connection 'I6 has a branch 18 which connects with a flexible hose 19. This flexible hose 19 extends along and above the beam i6 to support bracket 80 which is flxedly mounted on the beam I6. From the support bracket 30 the exible hose 19 extends in a loose loop 19' to a bracket 82 which is mounted upon the carriage 26. The flexible hose 19 then continues from the bracket 82 into another loose loop 19 which continues to a pipe connection 84. The pipe connection 84 connects with one end of a pipe line 35 which is mounted on the bar 48 of the lifting fork 54. The pipe line 85 contains the two valves 36 and 81. Between the valves 86 and 81 the pipe line 85 is provided with a T-connection 88. A flexible hose 89 connects with the T-connection 88 and extends into a loose loop 89' which is supported on a bracket 82 which is mounted on the carriage 26. The loose loop 89' then continues into another loose loop 89, which is supported in the stationary bracket 80 which is mounted on the beam I6. The flexible hose 89 now connects with a pipe line 0| which connects with the back end of the air cylinder 32.

The Valves 86 and 81 are of identical construction. Each is provided with a spring 92 which normally urges the valve closed. Each of said valves has a handle 93 by which it may be manually opened. When the valves are opened the compressed air may flow through them. The

loops and 89 are resiliently supported by springs 95 which are supported by brackets 96 mounted on and projecting from the carriage 26.

The operation of the device may be understood from the following:

The compressed air from the tank 1| is permanently connected with the front end of the air cylinder 32 and acts to force the piston 33 to the back end of the cylinder. The parts are illustrated in this condition in Fig. 1. It should be noted that the lifting fork 44 is in its raised position. The lifting fork is free to be manually moved along the length of the section I1 of the beam I6. When this is done the carriage 26 merely moves along the beam I6. The bottom section of the cable 38 merely passes over the pulleys 29, 30 and 42 during movements of the carriage 26. The hose loops 19 and 89 vary in Shape as the carriage 26 is moved to its different positions.

The lifting fork 44 is lowered by opening the valve 86. Compressed air may now ow through the pipe line 12 to the elbow 15, the pipe connection 16, the pipe connection 18, the hose 19, through the loop 19', and through the loop 19" to the pipe connection 84. When the valve 86 is opened, the compressed air ows through the pipe line 65 to the T-connection 88, and then through the flexible pipe line 89, passing through the loop 89', the loop B9". and the pipe line 9|'. The piston 33 will now be driven towards the front end of the cylinder 32 because the area of the back face of the piston 33 is larger than the area of its front face. The piston rod 34 reduces the area of the front face of the piston 33. The piston rod 34 now extends, so that the roller 36 moves towards the roller 31. This slackens the cable 38 which lowers the lifting fork 44. As long as the valve 86 is held open the lifting fork will descend. It should be noted that this is true in al1 positions of the carriage 26 along the length of the section I1 of the beam I6. When the Valve 86 is allowed to close, the lifting fork 44 maintains a stationary position.

The lifting fork 44 may be caused to move upwards, merely by opening the valve 81. The compressed air from the back end of the cylinder 32 may now escape. It passes through the pipe line 9| and then through the flexible hose 89, passing through loop B9", the loop 89', the T- connection, and out through the valve 81. When the valve 81 is closed the piston 33 will stop moving. If the valve 81 is held open long enough the piston 33 will reach its initial position, the one illustrated upon the drawing.

When the fork 44 is lowered over concrete blocks or other objects which are to be picked up, the hooks 62 are moved off the pins 6 I. Now when the fork 44 is moved upwards, the yoke 55 will move upwards and pivot the arms 5| and 52, and indirectly pivot the jaws 49 which grip and hold the blocks. In this way the blocks may be raised and lowered and the truck may be loaded or unloaded. It is possible to pile the blocks upon the truck in positions all around the post I0. The beam I6 is free to swing 360.

In Figs. 9 and 10 another form of the invention has been disclosed. In this form a vertical hollow post |00 is provided with a bottom flange I 0| by which it is mounted upon a truck |02. A horizontal compound beam |03 is turnably mounted upon the post 00. The compound beam |3 is formed from a pair of spaced beam sections |04 and |05. The inner ends of the beam sections |04 and |05 are connected with a ring |06 which is mounted coaxially around the post |00. A support ring |01 is fixedly mounted on the post |00 and supports a ball bearing |08 which engages against the bottom of the ring |06. The top of the ring |06 is engaged by a ball bearing |09 which is supported by a bushing I I0 adjustably mounted on the top of the post I0. Preferably the bushing I I0 is threadedly engaged on the post |00 so that it may be adjusted upwards and downwards. The outer ends of the beam sections |04 and |05 are connected together by several tubular members I'I4 which are mounted between said beam sections and through which holding bolts ||5 pass. Blocks I I6 are mounted upon the ends of the beam sections |04 and I6 through which bolts |I5 also pass. With this construction the llnim |03 is free to be turned 360 on the post The ring |06 is provided with a perforated lug IIS superimposed upon a perforated lug ii? formed on the ring |01, when the beam |03 is extended rearwards on the truck |02. A bolt |28 removably engages through perforations of the lugs IIB and |I1 and serves to normally lock the beam |03 from swinging. The bolt i i6 is connected with a chain or cable H3 which has an end attached to the post |00. It is proposed that the bolt |I8 be used to hold the beam |03 from swinging when the truck is travelling. When the truck is being loaded and unloaded the bolt H8 is removed so that the beam |03 is free to swing on the post |00.

A carriage |24 is slidably mounted on the beam |03. This carriage |24 consists of a pair of brackets |25 positioned to the front and the back of the beam |03. Rollers |26 are mounted upon brackets |25 and engage the flanges of the beam sections |04 and |05. The brackets |25 are provided with bearings |28 through which trunnion elements |29 are mounted. The trunnion |20 projects from a member |30. This member |30, in the particular design illustrated on the drawing comprises an air hoist cylinder. It should be noted that the air hoist cylinder |30, because of the trunnion |29 is free to pivot between the beam sections |04 and |05. It is illustrated in a vertical position, in Figs. 9 and 10. It should'be the valve 8S is manually opened.

recognized that' the air hoist Vcylinder |30 isfr'e'e to' be pivoted downwards into a substantially horizontalf position. The top of the air hoist cylinder |30'is provided with a perforated lug |32. The beam section |04 and |05 have aligned apertures |33. A bolt |34 is normally held in a clip |35 on one of the beam sections of the beam |03. The bolt |34 is connected with a chain or cable |36 which has one end attached to the beam |03. It is possible to swing the air hoist cylinder |30 downwards into a substantially horizontal position and then to pass the bolt |34 through the apertures |33 and the perforated lug |32 by which the air hoist cylinder |30 is then latched from further motion. It is proposed that the truck be driven with the air hoist cylinder in this latter position.

A piston |38v is slidably mounted within the air hoist cylinder |30. A piston rod |33 connects with the piston |38 and extends from the bottom end of the air hoist cylinder |30. The extended end of the piston rod |30 is provided with a hook |40. A lifting fork d is mounted upon the hook. |40. This lifting fork 40 is identical in construction tothe lifting fork 40, described in the prior form of the invention.

A compressed air supply line |44 extends through the post ||0 and connects with swivel joint |45 which is mounted across the top of the post |00. The compressed air supply line |44 then continues from the swivel joint |45 and extends above and along the beam |03 to a point where it is supported by a bracket |40 which is mounted on the beam |03. The compressed air supply line |44 then continues into a loop portion, the end of which is connected with a T pipe tting |41. This pipe fitting |43 is connected with the bottom of the air hoist cylinder |30. The pipe tting |4| is connected with the line which extends into a loop portion and connects with a valve 03. The valve 00' is mounted upon the lifting fori; 40. The valve 00 connects with a Vpipe section 00' which connects with a T 80 which in turn connects with another valve 87 mounted on the lifting fork 40. The T 00 connects with the pipe line |50 which extends around into a loop portion and then connects with the top end of the air hoist cylinder |30. The valves 06 and 3l are identical in construction to the valves 80 and 8l described in the prior form of the invention.

The operation of this form of the invention may be understood from the following:

Normally the vaives 30 and 87 seek a closed position. When these valves are closed the lifting fori; 40 retains whatever position it is in. 'When it is desired to lower the lifting fork 49',

The cornpressed air from the air supply line |44 is connected with the bottom of the air hoist cylinder |30 by the T |41. Now the compressed air is also connected by the pipe |43, the open valve 06', the pipe the T 88', and the pipe line |50 with the top of the air hoist cylinder |30. Since the cross sectional area of the top of the piston |33 is larger than the bottom of said piston because of the area consumed by the piston rod |30, the piston |38 will be forced downwards and the piston rod |39 will be extended from the bottom of the air hoist cylinder |30. In this way the lifting fork 43 moves downwards. It will continue to move downwards as long as the valve 00 is held open. When the valve 00 is closed the lifting fork V40' will maintain any position in which it is at this instant.

When it is desired to'raise the-lifting fork 49', the valve 81 is manually opened. Now the compressed air which is entrapped in the top of the air hoist cylinder |30 may escape through the pipe |50, the T 88 and the valve 81'. It should be noted that the compressed air supply line |44 is connected by the T |41 with the bottom of the air hoist cylinder |30, and therefore the piston |30 now moves upwards.

It is proposedV that the lifting fork 49 be operated in the usual way to grip blocks for loading or unloading the truck |02. The beam |03 may be swung around and the carriage |24 may be moved to any position along the beam |03, during the loading and unloading operations. It should be noted that because the air hoist cylinder |30 is connected with the carriage |24 it will correspondingly move to all positions to which the carriage |24 is moved.

When the truck is driven it is necessary that the bolt ||8 be engaged through the perforations in the lugs I0 and to hold the beam |03 from swinging. Furthermore it is necessary that the vvair hoist cylinder |30 be pivoted downwards and then the bolt |34 may be engaged through the apertures |33 the perforation in the lug |32 for holding the air hoist cylinder |30 in a downward position. The lifting fork 49 may be removed from the hook |40 and rested on the truck |02 during travelling to the truck.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United .States Letters Patent is:

l. A truck hoist, comprising a vertical post adapted to be mounted upon a truck, a horizontal beam turnably mounted upon said post, a carriage slidably mounted upon said beam, a lifting fork depending from said carriage, and air hoist mea-ns for raising and lowering said lifting fork. connected with said beam for turning along with said beam and having operator valves mounted upon said lifting fork, said air hoist means including an air hoist cylinder pivotally mounted on said carriage.

2. A truck hoist, comprising a vertical post adapted to be mounted upon a truck, a horizontal beam turnably mounted upon said post, a carriage slidably mounted upon said beamy an air hoist cylinder pivotally mounted upon said carriage for assuming a vertical and a substantially horizontal position, a piston in ysaid cylinder, a piston rod connected with said piston and extending from one end of said cylinder, a lifting fork depending from the extended end of said piston rod, a compressed air supply line connected with said cylinder and having sections attached to said lifting fork, and air control valves mounted on said lifting fork and connected with said air supply line for controlling said air piston for raising and lowering said lifting fork.

3. A truck hoist, comprising a vertical post adapted to be mounted upon a truck, a horizontal beam turnably mounted upon said post, a carriage slidably mounted upon said beam, an air hoist cylinder pivotally mounted upon said carriage for assuming a vertical and a substantially horizontal position, a piston in said cylinder, a

piston rod connected with said piston and extending from one end of said cylinder, a lifting fori: depending from the extended end oi said piston rod, a compressed air supply line connected with said cylinder and having sections attached to said lifting fork, air control vai es mounted on said lifting fork and connected with said air supply line for controlling said air piston for raising and lowering said lifting fork, and means for connecting said air hoist cylinder in a hori- 1 zontal position with said horizontal beam for holding said air hoist cylinder in a substantially horizontal position.

4. A truck hoist, comprising a vertical post adapted to be mounted upon a truck, a horizontal beam turnably mounted upon said post, a carriage slidably mounted upon said. beam, an air hoist cylinder pivotally mounted upon said carriage for assuming a vertical and a substantially horizontal position, a piston in said cylinder, a l

piston rod connected with said pStOn and eX- tending from one end of said cylinder, a lifting fork depending from the extended end of said piston rod, a compressed air supply line connected with said cylinder and having sections at-z tached to said lifting fork, air control valves mounted on said lifting fork and connected with said air supply line for controlling said air piston for raising and lowering said lifting fork,

and releasable means for connecting said beam L and said post for holding said beam from turning on said post.

5. A truck hoist, comprising a vertical post adapted to be mounted upon a truck, a horizontal beam turnably mounted upon said post, a carriage slidably mounted upon said beam, an air hoist cylinder pivotally mounted upon said carriage for assuming a vertical and a substantially horizontal position, e, piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected with said piston and extending from one end of said cylinder, a lifting fork depending from the extended end of said piston rod, a compressed air supply line connected with said cylinder and having sections attached to said lifting fork, and air control valves mounted on Said lifting fork and connected with said air supply line for controlling said air piston for raising and lowering said lifting fork, said compressed air supply line including a pipe line coaxially passing through said Vertical post,

and a swivel joint on the top of said pipe line, whereby said beam is free to turn.

6. A truck hoist, comprising a vertical post adapted to be mounted upon a truck, a horizon tal beam turnably mounted upon said post, a carriage slidably mounted upon said beam, an air hoist cylinder pivotally mounted upon said carriage for assuming a vertical and a substanu tially horizontal position, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected with said piston and extending from one end of said cylinder, a lifting fork depending from the extended end of said piston rod, a compressed air supply line connected with said cylinder and having sections attached to said lifting fork, and air control valves mounted on said lifting fork and connected with said air supply line for controlling said air piston for raising and lowering said lifting fork, said compressed air supply line including a pipe line coaxially passing through said vertical post, and a swivel joint on the top of said pipe line, whereby said beam is free to turn, said swivel joint being connected with a pipe line extending over and along said beam, a bracket mounted on said beam for supporting said second named pipe line, said last named pipe line continuing into the loose loop and connecting with the bottom of said air hoist cylinder, another pipe line connecting from the bottom of said air hoist cylinder, a pipe line mounted upon said lifting fork and provided with two valves, said last named pipe line connecting with one of said valves, and a pipe line connected between said valves and connecting with the top of said air hoist cylinder.

LOUIS GELBMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 611,777 Des Brisay Oct, 4, 1898 655,321 Anderson Aug. 7, 1900 1,542,787 Fuller June 16, 1925 1,836,444 Carnahan Dec. 15, 1931 1,907,024 Willard et al. May 2, 1933 2,397,271 Ladwig May 26, 1946 

